We are the family of Sgt. Dillion Naslund, and in his memory, we are reaching out in the hope that we can help others.

We are not counselors or therapists; just loving parents wanting to help save a soldier or family from the tremendous pain and tragedy such a loss bears.

After serving two tours overseas, one in Iraq and one in Afghanistan, Dillion returned home from combat. We had no idea he was struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI).

On December 10, 2012, Dillion took his own life.

Shortly after Dillion’s death, we came across a quote: “If we each do a little, together we can do a lot.” Reading this deeply impacted us, motivating us to do what we can to reach out. Later, we learned from a CNN article that 22 veterans commit suicide each day and felt an urgent need to help other soldiers and families going through the battles of PTSI. We chose to be a bridge for families and veterans to connect them with any resources available: Dillion didn’t know of these and felt alone in his battles. We want other veterans and those who love them to know that they are not alone. There is help.

Currently, we are partnering with Operation Engage America, an organization created by Howard and Jean Somers of San Diego, California after their son, Daniel Somers, took his own life as a result of PTSI. They use their vision for this organization to put together resources to engage Americans in the process of helping to heal our service members. We join hands in the effort to meet our goal of organizing a grassroots event every June across America to share any resources we can.

While many of the men and women who have served our nation in the armed forces return home and make successful transitions back to civilian life, many vets returning from active duty are struggling due to the mental and physical toll of war. Dillion is the true story of a young soldier who served his country well but lost his battle with PTSI (Post Traumatic Stress Injury.)

PTSD or PTSI?

"The nation’s second-highest ranking Army officer is calling on mental health professionals to change the name of the condition that has afflicted hundreds of thousands of U.S. soldiers. But some of those doctors are resisting the change.

The term Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, carries a stigma that has discouraged too many soldiers from understanding the condition and seeking proper treatment, Gen. Peter Chiarelli, the Army vice chief of staff told the PBS NewsHour. He would like to see PTSD called Post Traumatic Stress Injury, or PTSI, instead.

"It is an injury," Chiarelli said. Calling the condition a "disorder" perpetuates a bias against the mental health illness and "has the connotation of being something that is a pre-existing problem that an individual has" before they came into the Army and "makes the person seem weak," he added.

"It seems clear to me that we should get rid of the "D"; if that is in any way inhibiting people from getting the help they need," Chiarelli said. Calling it an injury instead of a disorder "would have a huge impact," encouraging soldiers suffering from the condition to seek help, according to the four-star general.

Rates of PTSD in the Army are estimated at 10-20 percent for combat infantry soldiers who experienced direct combat. In some units with high combat involvement, the rates are as high as 25-30 percent."